Real Madrid v Barcelona: what lies behind El Clasico fix claim?

Police investigate allegations that a linesman was told to favour Real Madrid as football and politics mix in Spain

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
(Image credit: David Ramos/Getty Images)

Fears of another European match fixing scandal are growing after claims by a linesman in Spain that he was asked to favour Real Madrid in next month's El Clasico derby with Barcelona, but the allegations could also be related to political tensions in Spain as the Catalan independence movement gathers pace.

The unnamed official told police that he had been approached by another official who said the Spanish refereeing committee was putting pressure on them to favour the Madrid side.

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